Proper Use

Take lamotrigine only as directed by your doctor to help your condition as much as possible and to decrease the chance of unwanted effects. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Lamotrigine may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed.

If you are taking the chewable dispersible tablets, they may be swallowed whole, chewed, and swallowed, or dispersed in a small amount of liquid and swallowed. If the tablets are chewed, they should be followed with a small amount of water or diluted fruit juice to aid in swallowing. To break up these tablets, add the tablets in enough water or diluted fruit juice to cover the tablets (about a teaspoonful), wait until the tablets are completely dispersed (about 1 minute), then swirl the solution and swallow it immediately.

If you are taking the disintegrating tablet, make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet. Do not open the blister pack that contains the tablet until you are ready to take it. Remove the tablet from the blister pack by peeling back the foil, then taking the tablet out. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Place the tablet into your tongue and moved around in your mouth. It should melt quickly. After the tablet has melted, swallow or take a sip of water.

Swallow the extended-release tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.

Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands and dosage forms may not work the same way.

This medicine can be used with other seizure medicines. Keep using all of your seizure medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Adults not taking valproic acid (Depakote®) and not taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then a total of 50 mg divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day.

Adults taking valproic acid (Depakote®)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once every other day for two weeks, then 25 mg once a day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.

Adults not taking valproic acid (Depakote®) but taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)—At first, 50 mg of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then a total of 100 mg divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day.

Adults and teenagers not taking valproic acid (Depakote®) but taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then a total of 100 mg divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 500 mg a day.

Adults and teenagers not taking valproic acid (Depakote®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then 50 mg once a day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 375 mg a day.

Adults and teenagers taking valproic acid (Depakote®) and also taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once every other day for two weeks, then 25 mg once a day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day.

Children not taking valproic acid (Depakote®) but taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)— At first, 0.6 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.27 mg per pound) of body weight of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then 1.2 mg/kg (0.54 mg per pound) of body weight divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day.

Children not taking valproic acid (Depakote®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)— At first, 0.3 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.14 mg per pound) of body weight of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then 0.6 mg/kg (0.27 mg per pound) of body weight divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 300 mg a day.

Children taking valproic acid (Depakote®) and also taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)— At first, 0.15 mg per kg (0.07 mg per pound) of body weight of lamotrigine given in one dose or two smaller doses each day for two weeks, then 0.3 mg/kg (0.136 mg per pound) of body weight given in one dose or two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day.

Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For oral dosage form (extended-release tablet):

For seizures:

Adults and teenagers older than 13 years of age not taking valproic acid (Depakote®) but taking carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then 100 mg once a day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 600 mg a day.

Adults and teenagers older than 13 years of age not taking valproic acid (Depakote®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), and/or primidone (Mysoline®)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then 50 mg once a day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day.

Adults and teenagers older than 13 years of age taking valproic acid (Depakote®)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once every other day for two weeks, then 25 mg once a day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 250 mg a day.

Children younger than 13 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.